Editorial
Islington and Angel have long been among London's most interesting drinking neighbourhoods — Upper Street alone contains more bars per square mile than most other postcodes in the capital. The best bars in Islington and Angel range from neighbourhood pubs with serious beer programmes to cocktail rooms that would hold their own in Soho. We have done the rounds, removed the obvious choices, and kept only the ones worth specifically seeking out.
Islington has been one of the centres of London's craft beer scene since the early days. The pubs here tend to care about what is on the taps in a way that distinguishes them from the rest of the city.
Islington's cocktail bars tend toward the neighbourhood-first end of the spectrum — less scene-focused than Soho, more likely to have a regular clientele who actually live nearby. That produces a different and often better atmosphere.
For date nights and occasions, Islington has options that are genuinely romantic without the pretension — neighbourhood spaces that have earned loyal followings through consistency rather than hype.
The best bars in Islington and Angel reward the visitor who leaves Upper Street and explores the surrounding streets. The area's strength is its range — serious cocktail rooms sit two streets from Victorian ale houses that have not changed in forty years. Our strong recommendation is 69 Colebrooke Row for a proper occasion and The Wenlock Arms when you just want a real pint in a real pub with no distractions.
Sofia has been writing about European bars and drinking culture for over a decade. She splits her time between London and Lisbon, and can navigate Upper Street in her sleep.